Geneva/ Port-au-Prince, 14 January 2024 – More than a million people are now internally displaced in Haiti, according to alarming new figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The latest data reveals that 1,041,000 people, many displaced multiple times, are struggling amidst an intensifying humanitarian crisis. Children bear the greatest burden of displacement, making up over half of the displaced population. 

This marks a threefold increase in displacement within a year, rising from 315,000 in December 2023 to over a million. In the capital alone, displacement has nearly doubled, rising by 87 per cent fueled by relentless gang violence, the collapse of essential services - particularly healthcare - and worsening food insecurity. This represents the highest recorded number of displacement due to violence in Haiti, underscoring the urgent needs for security and assistance. 

“Haiti needs sustained humanitarian assistance right now to save and protect lives," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. "We must work together to address the root causes of the violence and instability that has led to so much death and destruction.”  

The majority of the displaced originate from the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Many are seeking refuge in Haiti’s provinces, overwhelming host communities and straining limited resources. In the Artibonite department, displacement tripled in 2024, reaching over 84,000 people, highlighting the spread of violence beyond the Haitian capital.